Chapter 55: There’s No Other Way
Janet's denial brings certainty to Edward's speculation.
Although he has only gotten some answers from the nurse, which includes the fact that a rich lady went to the hospital looking for Alice. After that, Alice left the hospital. No one knows what happened exactly. After all, the meeting took place in the consultation room. Which is why Edward could only ask who the rich lady is, and who is she with. However, when he wants to ask Julie more questions, she claims that she doesn't have more details, as she wasn't there with Alice.
Compiling all the information he has at the moment, he thought it is Joanna at first.
But 'rich lady' doesn't sound like it is describing her.
His mother's reaction disappoints him. His eyes darken and he sounds colder, "Mother, why did you pick on her?"
The way Edward questions Janet triggers her. She glares at Edward, "What do you mean by pick on her? Is this the way you talk to your mother once you come home after god-knows how long?"
"Did you made Alice resign from the hospital?"
"Alice!" Janet stands up the moment she hears Alice's name. "Edward, did you forget what happened five years ago? She went for an abortion and abandoned you. Do you still remember what you promised me? You tell me now!" Edward becomes quiet. He couldn't say a word. His mind wanders back to what happened five years ago.
His silence encourages Janet to raise her voice. "She cheated on you and betrayed you. Now you come home and question your mother for such a shameless woman?"
"Did you go to the hospital or not? It's all I want to know." Edward understands his mother's hatred of Alice. He doesn't want to hear any of those words. He only wants to know what happened exactly this afternoon.
He already ordered Allen to find out Alice's address. He comes home just to find out who is the one who went to the hospital looking for Alice today.
It is pretty obvious now that the lady is his mother.
Even if she denies it.
A mother always knows their son well. Even though Janet didn't quite understand what Edward is thinking most of the time, she still sees some clues from his questions.
"Did you go to the hospital looking for her today?"
"So, you admitted that you are the one who chased her out?"
After listening to what Edward says, Janet realizes that Edward doesn't know too much of the fact. She is guessing that Alice did not tell him about it, it must be somebody else from the hospital.
Janet feels relieved and says, "It's none of my business to tell her where she should go. She is a freeman and she can go anywhere she wants to. Furthermore, I wasn't feeling well this afternoon and I asked Joanna to take me to the hospital. It is a coincidence that we ran into her."
"So, it was you!" Edward is filled with disappointment and pain.
"Yes, it's me but I didn't do anything to her. She is the one who wants to leave. You can go and ask around in the hospital. That aside, is this how you should talk to your mother? For a woman like her?" Janet feels angry looking at Edward's reaction when he knows about their encounter.
Five years. She thought Edward has already forgotten about Alice.
She never expects Edward to have such a huge reaction to what happened to her.
Edward knows there's nothing more he could get out of his mother. He turns and walks toward the main door. Janet's furious voice raises from his back, "Edward Smith, don't you ever come back if you walk out of that door today!" Edward keeps walking.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Janet is enraged. Her chest heaves out of anger. Now she hopes that she could go back in time and torture Alice even more.
"Edward..." Joanna sees how Janet is defeated by Edward, she put on an act as a mediator and stops Edward, "Janet wasn't feeling well today and we were just there to do some medical check-ups. It's really not what you think it is." "Maybe you should tell me what I'm thinking?" Edwards stops and stares at Joanna. A mischief smile appears on his lips.
"I... You..."
Joanna chokes on her words. If she says anything at all, doesn't it mean that she is also involved in what happened this afternoon? She couldn't say anything but watch Edward leaves. Edward ignores her and walks away.
Janet blows off her steam by throwing cups onto the floor. As Joanna watches Edward leaves, she clenches her fist and there are unreconciled looks in her eyes.
...
After Alice leaves the hospital, she heads right back to her apartment with tears on her face.
She acted as nothing happened in front of her children. However, Albert has already known about her dismissal through his special way.
Looking at their mother who put on a happy mask for them, Albert and Rebecca feel sorry for her. They want to beat their daddy up and pull some prank on their so-called grandmother.
At night, Albert and Rebecca are tucked in their bed very early. After listening to a fairytale story, both of the children close their eyes and fall asleep.
Alice finally gets to unmask herself. She reaches out her hands and gently strokes her children's face. Looking at their pink and fair skin, she recovers from the feeling of exhaustion.
It's a bliss that she still has her children.
She kisses her children and walks out of the room.
The moment she leaves the room, the two children on the bed open their eyes. They look at each other and their eyes sparkle with mischief and shrewd look. There will always be payback for those who bullied their mother.
...
Alice is sitting in the living room. She didn't notice how special her children are. All she thinks about now is how to raise her children without a job now?
The Smith family has a huge influence on this city. If Janet could get her fired from this hospital, she could do the same to her next job.
But what job can she take on other than being a doctor?
The question bothers Alice. Does she need to leave and work in a foreign country again?
No, her mother has just gotten better, she couldn't leave the hospital just yet. There are medical charges, the Smith family, as well as the Hale family. There is no other way than to tolerate all these.
When Alice is worrying about her troubles, her phone buzzes. It's Edward.
He's been calling since afternoon until nine o'clock at night. Didn't he have anything else to do?
Alice hangs up the phone crossly. When she thinks about what Janet and Joanna did to her, she doesn't want to hear Edward's voice, even just for a second!
If it's not him, she would still be enjoying her peaceful life. Furthermore, he is about to marry Joanna, and they even have their children. Why did he keep coming to her? What a shameless guy.
The more Alice thinks about it, the more she becomes angry. When her phone buzzes again, she picks up the phone and yell, "Edward, can you just stay away from me? I don't want to receive your calls or hear your voice ever again! Goodbye!"